Waste container having oriented compartments

Abstract

A waste container (20) having an integral enclosure (30) with multiple compartments (32, 34, 36, 38, and 40) oriented to a pair of non symmetrically located lugs (108,110) is provided. The orientation allows for waste separated by class to be oriented with a waste collection vehicle. A cover (60) having hinged lids (64, 66, 68, 70, 72, and 72') is attached to the enclosure with a hinge (56).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A waste container comprising: an integral enclosure having a first end and a longitudinal axis, said enclosure defining a plurality of compartments, each of said compartments elongated along said longitudinal axis and having an open end accessible from said first end; and   a pair of lugs extending outward from said enclosure and normal to said longitudinal axis, said lugs located asymmetrically relative to said first end for indicating to an apparatus for lifting and emptying said container the orientation of said compartments.   
     
     
       2. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said compartments has a cross sectional area defined normal to said longitudinal axis decreasing with distance from said open end to facilitate egress of contents of said compartments. 
     
     
       3. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein said plurality of compartments comprise: a central compartment having a circular cross section; and   at least two outer compartments arranged radially about said central compartment.   
     
     
       4. A container as defined in claim 3 wherein lids corresponding to said central compartment lie in a plane normal to said longitudinal axis to form a work surface for sorting for sorting of waste. 
     
     
       5. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein the contour of sid cover and lids corresponding to said outer compartments rise to peaks oriented towards said first end. 
     
     
       6. A container as defined in claim 3 further comprising: a cover over said first end, said cover having a plurality of openings wherein each of said openings exposes the open end of a corresponding one of sid compartments; and   hinge means for mounting said cover on said enclosure.   
     
     
       7. A container as defined in claim 6 further comprising: a plurality of lids wherein each of said lids is associated with and closes at least a portion of a corresponding one of sid openings; and   means, responsive to gravity, for attaching each of said lids to said container wherein each of said lids exposes its associated one of said openings when said longitudinal axis is substantially vertical and said first end is substantially lower than the remainder of said enclosure.   
     
     
       8. A waste container, comprising: an integral enclosure having a first end and a longitudinal axis, said enclosure defining a plurality of compartments, each of said compartments elongated along said longitudinal axis and having an open end accessible from said first end, each of said compartments having a cross sectional area defined normal to said longitudinal axis decreasing with distance from said open end, said plurality of compartments including a central compartment having a cylindrical cross section and at least two outer compartments arranged radially about said central compartment;   means, available to an apparatus for lifting and emptying said container, for indicating the orientation thereto of said compartments;   a cover over said first end, said cover having a plurality of openings wherein each of said openings exposes said open end of a corresponding one of said compartments;   hinge means for mounting said cover on said enclosure;   a plurality of lids wherein each of said lids is associated with and closes at least a portion of a corresponding one of said openings; and   means, responsive to gravity, for attaching each of said lids to said cover wherein each of said lids exposes said associated open end when said longitudinal axis is substantially vertical and said first end is substantially lower than the remainder of said enclosure;   and wherein the lids corresponding to said central compartment lie in a plane substantially normal to said longitudinal axis to form a work surface for sorting of waste when said longitudinal axis is substantially vertical;   and wherein the contours of said cover and the lids corresponding to said outer compartments rise to peaks oriented towards said first end.